Roof problems can arise at any time. It’s a good idea to inspect your roof once a year. If you didn’t get around to inspecting it in the fall, inspect it in the winter. When you do, follow these winter roof maintenance tips for Colorado to help your roof last as long as possible.
Snow Removal
Do not remove snow from your roof, as doing so can cause damage, and loosen shingles, nails, or flashing. Also, do not get onto your roof if there’s snow on it, as it’s very easy to slip on the snow and fall and hurt yourself. Wait until all the snow has melted and your roof is completely dry before you get on it.
Gutters
A big part of your winter roof maintenance tips for Colorado is to clear your gutters of any debris that’s collected since your last gutter cleaning. Debris such as dirt, leaves, branches, birds, etc., can accomulate in your gutters. Add snow on top of this, your gutters are struggling to support all this weight. If left alone, your gutters will break away from your house resulting in costly repairs. Save yourself the headache and wasted money and check your gutters to make sure they’re clear of debris.
Remove Debris
In the fall and winter in Colorado, it’s common for branches and leaves to collect on your roof. Branches left on your roof can wear holes in your roof. Leaves left on your roof can cause mold to grow, thus weakening your roof. That’s why it’s a good idea to remove any debris on your roof in the winter.
Roof Inspection
If it’s been a while since you’ve stepped foot onto your roof, or had it inspected, get that done as soon as it’s safe to get onto your roof. You can save yourself a lot of money, headache, and worry if you inspect your roof or have it inspected to make sure it’s ok. Common things to look for include loose fasteners, such as nails and screws, loose, missing, or unsealed roofing material, such as shingles or flashing.
If you’re uncomfortable climbing a ladder and getting onto your roof, contact us to schedule a free roof inspection. We’re happy to come to you, whether you’re in Castle Rock, Cheyenne, Fort Lupton, or Red Feathers and inspect your roof. If your roof is good to go, we’ll let you know. Likewise, if it’s in need of repair, we’ll let you know that, too.
Re-Seal
Another common tip for winter roof maintenance tips for Colorado is to re-seal any loose nails or shingles. It’s common for fasteners, such as screws and nails, and roofing material, such as shingles and flashing, to become loose as your roof ages. As your roof ages, adhesives slowly dry and lose their ability to hold one material to another. What’s more, repeat abuse from strong winds can slowly loosen roofing material. As can the constant expanding and contracting of said roofing material. That’s why it’s a good idea to inspect your roof to check if anything needs re-sealing.
If you see opportunities to re-seal nails or shingles or flashing, we recommend a construction sealant, such as Sikaflex, a construction sealant from Sika. However, make sure the air and material temperature reaches 40º or better before applying it. Otherwise, it won’t hold as well.
Re-Fasten Fasteners
Like shingles, nails and screws can also become loose over time. If during your inspection, if you notice any loose or exposed nails in your asphalt shingle roof, drive the nails back down with a hammer and reseal it with construction sealant.
Missing Material
If during your roof inspection you notice any missing roofing material, be sure to replace that material as soon as possible. Afterall, a roof without a covering offers no protection and is a leak waiting to happen.
Ice Dams
Check for ice dams. An ice dam forms when there’s a build-up of snow above the eave, AND poor attic insulation and ventilation. As heat builds in your attic, it warms your roof. As snow builds on your roof and can’t melt and drain properly because there’s debris in your gutters, the ice above your eave freezes, creating a dam. If you notice ice dams on your roof, contact us for a free inspection and consultation. You might also consider a snow fence/guard, if you get ice dams. A snow fence/guard holds snow back on your roof and allows it to slowly melt, thus preventing ice dams.
Colorado Winter Roof Maintenance Tips Summary
- Don’t Remove Snow
- Clean Gutters
- Remove Debris
- Inspect Roof
- Re-Seal
- Re-Fasten
- Replace Missing Material
- Call us for a free roof inspection
A lot of roof damage and leaks can be avoided if you clean your gutters, and re-seal roof material and fasteners. If you inspect your roof once a year, that’s all it takes. Don’t feel like climbing onto your roof? No worries. We’re happy to come to you and inspect your roof for you, free of charge. We’ll let you know if it’s in need of cleaning or repair.